Iran's Supreme Leader Warns US Against Extension of Sanctions

Rasa - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned that implementation of the extended Iran sanctions law for another 10 years which was renewed by the US Congress earlier this month will be equal to the violation of the nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the six world powers ( the US, China, France, Britain, Russia and Germany) in July 2015.

News ID: 425357

Date: 27 November 2016 - 23:09

RNA - "There were a lot of debates about sanctions in the nuclear talks, but now they raise the issue of extending the sanctions in the US Congress and claim that these are not sanctions but renewal (of earlier sanctions)," the Supreme Leader said in a meeting with a group of Iranian Navy commanders and officials in Tehran on Sunday on the occasion of the National Navy Day.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the nuclear talks with the world powers, and said, "Initiating sanctions is no different from renewing them after their expiry date, as the latter is also (an instance of imposing) sanctions and a violation of the undertakings already taken up by the opposite side."

In relevant remarks on Wednesday, the Supreme Leader vowed Iran's tough response to US President Barack Obama's renewal of the State of Emergency with respect to Iran.

"If this extension is implemented and comes into force, it will certainly be a violation of the nuclear deal and they should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly show reaction," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a large gathering of Basij (volunteer) forces in Tehran.

Stressing that the nuclear deal shouldn’t turn into an instrument to pressure Iran and its people, he said, "In addition to breaking promises and defying its undertakings under the nuclear deal or leaving them incomplete, the US administration has turned the nuclear deal into a tool to pressure Iran again, and those (Iranian) officials engaged with the nuclear deal have explicitly confirmed this issue."

The Leader, meantime, underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t fear any power in the world, as it relies on the divine power and believes in the power of the people's presence and support.

His remarks came one day after the Iranian legislators in a statement deplored the US House of Representatives for extending the Iran sanctions law for another 10 years and banning the Treasury Department from granting license to sell commercial aircraft to the Islamic Republic, and called on the Tehran government to adopt reciprocal moves.

"We, the Iranian MPs, firmly support the remarks of the honorable parliament speaker this morning, and in addition to fully monitoring the behavior of the US senators and congress, urge the government to take reciprocal and serious measures on (the violation of) the nuclear deal according to the law (previously) approved by the parliament," said the statement, read by Akbar Ranjbarzadeh, a members of the parliament's presiding board.

"The parliament is fully ready to defend the Islamic Revolution's achievements in the civilian nuclear industry in Iran and national honor," it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani had blasted the remarks of his US counterpart Paul Ryan against Iran, and warned Washington of Tehran's retaliatory measures against the violation of the last year nuclear deal with the world powers.

"Such behavior is an instance of their insincerity which has been several times rightly mentioned by the Supreme Leader that they and their promises cannot be trusted. Of course, the likely goal pursued by Paul Ryan, who has taken positions against Trump with insulting words during the recent US elections, is to create the conditions so that the new US president will have serious problems from day one because it is clear that Iran will make them return to their senses with a reciprocal measure (if they violate the nuclear deal)," Larijani said, addressing an open session of the parliament in Tehran.

He referred to Ryan's allegations that Iran has violated the nuclear deal, and expressed surprise that he has not heard or seen the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the EU, even the US president and other organizations and officials' confirmation of Tehran's commitment to its undertakings.

"If you are not aware of such a volume of confirmations and approvals (of Iran's commitment to its undertakings), it will be of much regret; it is unlikely for you to be uninformed, and if you have uttered such untrue words, being aware of these confirmations and approvals, (you should be asked) what goal are you pursuing?" Larijani said, addressing Ryan.

His comments came after the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman warned that any practical move by Washington in violation of the last year nuclear deal would be reciprocated by Tehran and would kill the internationally-accepted agreement.

"The US congress has approved over 60 to 70 bills in the past year after the nuclear deal and any of them can be interpreted as standing against the nuclear deal but in the end, none has any executive guarantee before going through the (required) legal procedures," Bahram Qassemi told reporters in Tehran on Monday.

"If they go through the legal procedures, be approved as a law by the Senate and the US president endorses them, we will then certainly implement what we have designed and prepared and put on the table and we will not wait for their next step," he underscored.

His comments came as the Iranian parliament has passed a law requiring the government to respond to potential contraventions of the nuclear agreement.

Trump has demanded to renegotiate the Vienna nuclear deal with Iran.

During his election campaign, Trump said he would tear up the nuclear deal with Iran. Yet, he later changed tone and said he would definitely embark on renegotiating the deal.

In response, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan warned the US against any violation or delay in the implementation of the last year nuclear deal with Tehran, and said Washington will pay a heavy price if it embarks on such a grave mistake.

"Any delay, violation or return from the agreed path will entail high costs for them (the Americans) and they will be the main loser of any of their ignorant and proud measures," General Dehqan said, addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 8th International Aviation Exhibition on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf last Wednesday.

He stressed that while the US is attempting to convince the world states that sanctions against Iran are still in place but the structure of embargos has fallen apart.

General Dehqan, meantime, said that Iran has made huge progress in different fields despite sanctions, specially in the defense area.

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